On Wednesday 26 February, social enterprise Africa Fashion Guide brought the FASHION AFRICA Conference back to London at School of Oriental and African Studies. The event saw international industry leaders across two panel discussions coming together to discuss and promote the full supply chain of African fashion design, textiles, and manufacturing and thus communicate this to a larger, global audience.
The first panel themed Sustainable Fashion Made in Africa focussed on sourcing cotton and local fabrics, Fairtrade issues, local production, artisans as well as the future of global textiles and Africa’s part in it.
The second panel was themed The Future of African Fashion where the panelists had the chance to discuss the importance of fashion shows, media, press and marketing to bring light to African fashion into the global fashion industry as well as the importance of retail – selling and making available African fashion and international retailers in Africa.
The panelists on the first panel included Lisel Truscott of Textile Exchange, Mark Stephenson of Sandstorm Kenya, Tamsin Lejeune of Ethical Fashion Forum,while the second panel hosted Annegret Affolderbach of Choolips, Daphne Kasambala of Sappelle online boutique, Helen Jennings of Arise and Kisua online store, Nigerian designer Ituen Basi, Terence Sambo of One Nigerian Boy blog, Prama Bhardwaj of Sunflag/Mantisworld, and our very own Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo.
Also attending the event and giving a final word of thanks to Jacquline Shaw about her Africa Fashion Guide and Fashion Africa initiative was Ann McCreath of Kenyan label Kiko Romeo.
This must attend event had in attendance guests from press, brands as well as industry influencers and insiders and provided an unprecendented platform for all with a mutual interest, involvement and focus to elevate African textile trade, fashion design and production.
Also launched at the event were the tee-shirts from the African Fashion Guide African Cotton Campaign will be available to view and order on the day.
For more images visit The Africa Fashion Guide Facebook page.
Photography by AO-photography.
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